Police arrested a suspect yesterday in the murder of Bimal Chanda, a Bengali immigrant and longtime northwest Bronx resident who was beaten to death in the stairwell of his apartment building at 30 W. 190th St. on Oct. 29. Inspector Joseph Dowling, the commander of the 52nd Precinct, said police are still looking for a second suspect in the case. (Update: We’ve removed some of the information included in this post in order to assist authorities in apprehending this suscpect.)

Chanda was in the process of moving out of his apartment when police say he was attacked by two men who robbed him of $15 in cash. At community meetings following the attack, Dowling promised to track down the killers, but acknowledged investigators would need the help of the community.

Yesterday, local detectives, acting on a tip from someone who had seen the poster offering an award for information leading to the arrest of Chanda’s killer, tracked down and apprehended Devon Downs, a 29-year-old resident of Aqueduct Avenue.

Downs is being arraigned today, according to the Bronx District Attorney’s office.

Dowling credited the detective in charge of the case, John Ferretti, for his investigative efforts and for sticking with the case over the past three months.

“Cases take time,” Dowling said this morning.

Dowling says Downs gave a full confession and admitted to attacking Chanda who police say was pushed down a flight of stairs and landed on his head, causing massive internal injuries that led to his death five days later. Downs is being charged with murder and robbery.

Ed. note:Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to please notify Det. John Ferretti at (718) 220-5836 or the Detective Borough Bronx office at (718) 378-8083.